This policy explains what information the Archer Phalanx game for iPhone (shown on your Home Screen as "Phalanx") uses, who receives it, and the choices you have. We've kept it as short and plain as we can.
In short#
- There's no account and no sign-in. The game never asks for your name, email address, phone number, contacts, photos or precise location.
- Your progress and settings are saved on your iPhone.
- The game is free because it shows ads. Our advertising partners (Unity LevelPlay, ironSource Ads and Unity Ads) and our analytics partners (GameAnalytics and Google Firebase) receive some information about your device and how the game is used, as described below.
- On first launch you choose whether to allow personalised ads and analytics, and iOS asks whether the game may track you. You can change these choices at any time.
- We don't sell your information for money.
Who we are#
Archer Phalanx is published by Sultan Mustafin, an individual entrepreneur in the Republic of Kazakhstan, trading as Marchbird ("we", "us"). We decide how the information described here is used. You can reach us at support@marchbird.com.
What stays on your iPhone#
The game saves a file on your iPhone with:
- your progress: stages, best results, coins, upgrades and commanders;
- your settings: sound, music and haptics;
- what you've bought (Remove Ads, Starter Pack) and the counters the game uses to space out ads, such as how many runs you've played since the last one;
- your answers to the consent form and the tracking prompt, and when you gave them.
The game also keeps a small log of recent game events on your iPhone, limited to about 1 MB. It's a testing aid that we only read on our own test devices; on yours it just stays put.
These files aren't uploaded anywhere, and there's no cloud save. iOS may include them in your iCloud or computer backups. Deleting the game deletes them. Some of the same facts, such as the furthest stage you've reached, are also reported through analytics, as described below.
Purchases#
In-app purchases are made through Apple's App Store and are covered by Apple's terms and privacy policy. We never see your name, your Apple Account or your payment details. Apple tells the game which product was bought, so the game can unlock it and restore it later. We also record each purchase (the product, price and currency) in our analytics, to understand how the game is doing.
Advertising#
The game shows ads between runs, and offers rewarded ads that you can choose to watch (for example to revive, to double your coins or to get a free upgrade). Remove Ads stops the ads between runs; the rewarded ads stay available because you choose them.
Ads are delivered by Unity LevelPlay, an ad mediation service from Unity Technologies (formerly ironSource), using two ad networks from the same company: ironSource Ads and Unity Ads. The ad services start only after you've answered the consent form.
When the game requests and shows ads, these partners may collect:
- device identifiers: the identifier for vendor (IDFV), Unity Ads' own identifier and, only if you allow tracking, your device's advertising identifier (IDFA);
- your IP address and the approximate location (such as country) derived from it;
- device information, such as model, iOS version, language, screen size and connection type;
- how you interact with ads (views, clicks, rewards) and how the ad services perform;
- for Unity Ads, information about in-app purchases made in the game.
They use it to choose and show ads, measure them, limit how often you see the same ad, prevent fraud and improve their services. If you allow personalised ads and tracking, they may also show you ads based on your interests and your activity in other apps and websites.
Before the ad services start, the game passes them your choice: whether you consented to personalised ads and, if you didn't, a "do not sell or share my personal information" signal. It also tells them the game isn't directed at children. If you decline personalised ads you still see ads, but they aren't personalised.
Unity's practices are described in its Privacy Policy and its Game Player and App User Privacy Policy, which also explain how to make requests to Unity directly.
Analytics and crash reports#
GameAnalytics and Google Analytics for Firebase
We use GameAnalytics (GameAnalytics ApS) and Google Analytics for Firebase (Google) to understand how the game is played and to improve it: for example, which stages are started, won and lost, how far you got, which upgrades and commanders you picked, which ads were offered and watched, and purchases. With these events they receive device information (model, iOS version, app version, language), your IP address (from which an approximate location, such as country, is derived) and an identifier for your installation. If you allow tracking, GameAnalytics may also receive your advertising identifier (IDFA), and so may Firebase if Personalised ads is also on.
Firebase Crashlytics
If the game crashes, Firebase Crashlytics (Google) sends us a crash report: the device model, iOS version, app version, technical details of the crash, and the names of the last game events before it. We use crash reports only to find and fix problems.
Firebase Remote Config
Firebase Remote Config (Google) lets us adjust game settings without an update, such as how often ads may appear. To fetch them, the game sends a Firebase installation identifier, the app version and basic device information.
Unity
The game is built with the Unity engine, which may send Unity Technologies basic technical statistics about the device, such as its model, iOS version and graphics hardware.
When analytics starts. The analytics services start when the game opens, before the consent form appears. So on your first launch a few basic records (for example, that the game was opened, the device model and the app version) may be sent before you answer.
If you turn analytics off, the game stops sending gameplay events to GameAnalytics and tells Firebase not to store analytics data (Google's consent mode). Crash reports and Remote Config keep working, because the game needs them to run properly and to be fixed.
More detail: the GameAnalytics Privacy Notice, the Google Privacy Policy, Privacy and Security in Firebase, and how Google uses information from apps that use its services.
Your choices: consent and tracking#
The first time you open the game, it shows a "Your privacy" screen with two choices:
- Personalised ads: ads that fit you, and ad measurement;
- Analytics: how the game is played, so we can improve it.
You can tap Accept all or Reject all, or open Manage options to switch each one on or off. Then iOS shows Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt, which asks whether Phalanx may track your activity across other companies' apps and websites (Apple explains it here).
What declining does:
- Personalised ads off: you still see ads, but they aren't personalised. The game tells our ad partners that you didn't consent and that you opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information, and it tells Firebase not to use your data for advertising.
- Analytics off: as described above, gameplay events stop going to GameAnalytics and Firebase doesn't store analytics data.
- Ask App Not to Track: iOS doesn't give the game or its partners your device's advertising identifier (IDFA).
None of these choices changes how the game plays, and rewarded ads keep working.
To change your choices later:
- In the game, open Settings (the gear on the start screen) › Privacy. The privacy screen opens again, and your new choice applies straight away.
- For tracking, go to your iPhone's Settings › Privacy & Security › Tracking and turn Phalanx on or off.
Your rights and requests#
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access the personal information held about you, to have it corrected or deleted, to object to or restrict how it's used, or to get a copy of it.
We don't keep player data on servers of our own. The information described here is held by our partners and is linked to identifiers of your device rather than to your name. To make a request, email support@marchbird.com. We'll reply within 30 days and explain how to identify your device's data with each partner (for example, by sharing your advertising identifier or a partner's own ID) so the request can be carried out. You can also contact each partner directly through the privacy policies linked above. Deleting the game removes everything it saved on your iPhone.
If you're not satisfied with our answer, you may also be able to complain to the data protection authority where you live.
US state privacy rights#
If you live in California or another US state with a consumer privacy law, you have the right to know what personal information is collected about you, to access it, to delete it, to correct it, and to opt out of its "sale" or "sharing" and of targeted advertising. We won't treat you differently for using these rights.
We don't sell personal information for money. If you allow personalised ads, our ad partners may use information from the game for targeted advertising, which these laws may treat as "selling" or "sharing". To opt out, turn Personalised ads off in Settings › Privacy; the game then sends our ad partners a "do not sell or share" signal. You can also turn tracking off as described above.
In the last 12 months the game has made these categories of information available to the partners described above, for advertising, analytics, crash reporting and fraud prevention:
- identifiers: device and installation identifiers, the IDFA if you allowed tracking, and IP address;
- internet or other electronic network activity: how the game and its ads are used;
- approximate geolocation, derived from the IP address;
- commercial information: in-app purchases;
- if you allowed personalised ads, inferences our ad partners may draw about your interests.
We don't collect sensitive personal information. To make a request, email support@marchbird.com; an authorised agent can also make it for you. We may need to ask for details to confirm the request.
How long data is kept#
- On your iPhone: until you delete the game.
- GameAnalytics: as described in its Data Retention and Deletion Policy.
- Google Analytics for Firebase: user-level data is deleted after the retention period set for our project (Google explains the options).
- Crashlytics and Remote Config: as listed on Firebase's privacy page.
- Unity (ads): as described in Unity's Game Player and App User Privacy Policy.
- Emails to us: only as long as we need them to help you.
Children#
The game is made for a general audience and isn't directed at children under 13 (or the higher minimum age where you live). We don't knowingly collect personal information from children, and the game tells our ad partners that it isn't child-directed. If you believe a child has used the game and want their data deleted, email us and we'll help with our partners.
International transfers#
We're based in Kazakhstan, and our partners process information in the United States, the European Union and other countries, whose data protection laws may differ from those where you live. Our partners use safeguards such as standard contractual clauses where the law requires them.
Changes to this policy#
We'll update this policy when the game or its partners change. The latest version is always on this page, with the date at the top.
Contact#
Questions or requests: support@marchbird.com.
Publisher: Sultan Mustafin, individual entrepreneur, Republic of Kazakhstan, trading as Marchbird.